Eating straw

[Paint it Lucky]

Who here dislikes horses to eat straw beds (and tries many things to prevent them doing so), and who doesn't really mind or even likes their horse to eat the straw (well it stops them going hungry!), feedback please!

 

[Bossanova]

Moon eats her straw, she gets through about 1/4 bale every night. I dont mind, does her no harm and if it keeps her eating then I'm happy!

 

[loobylu]

I get a little exhasperated at half her bed disapearing overnight but she seems to suffer no ill effects. She has straw and haylage mixed in her net but seems to prefer her bed...typical welshie!

 

[Wooleysmum]

Mine would be huge if he had a straw bed as he would eat the whole lot!

 

[Serephin]

my TB scoffs some of his straw bed, keeps him occupied and stops him from getting a rumbly tummy!

 

[spaniel]

I love straw beds but cant use them for either of my horses.

If a horse is only picking thorugh the straw and not eating huge amounts it really wouldnt bother me. however if this was being eaten because the horse had no hay to pick on I wouldnt be pleased. Its ok to have the choice but to be forced to eat bedding is not on IMO.

 

[amandaco2]

i give pig straw to eat it helps keep her weight down

she loves it.i introduced it gradually so now she has half hay half straw.

 

[bex1984]

Mine nibbles his straw - so he gets slightly less hay! Straw is included in my livery payment so I don't mind too much.

 

[vicm2509]

I always wondered why I seemed to use so much straw on Barons bed, then I caught him eating it one day. I dont mind, he gets adlib hay/haylage in the winter anyway, so if he eats his straw it costs me less

 

[Donkeymad]

Good source of fibre and low in calories, why not??

 

[TequilaMist]

Pony eats half her bed even when she's got a heap of hay,
horse doesn't touch her bed even when hay finished.I don't mind as it is good quality straw we have at our yard and have had no ill effects.

 

[Troggy]

Toff has half hay half straw to keep her weight down so wouldn't worry

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Mine likes to have a nibble at his straw, even when he has plenty of hay to eat. I try to make sure he always has enough hay that there is some left in the morning (so he hasn't gone hungry), but I don't mind him eating his straw bed too as it's good roughage and keeps him happy.

 

[miss_horsemad]

My mare eats her straw too... and im not to worried.. but you do have to be careful, because although everyone says it doesnt seem to cause any problems etc, it can cause a straw belly, straw cramps and also if not great quality, the dust can cause respiratory problems. I personally wouldnt deliberately feed straw i.e in a net with there hay etc, and would rather just give them may hay and not a proper feed, because at the end of the day horses are trickle feeders and their digestive system isnt designed for the high concentrate diets most feed them.. and most can live on hay and grass quite happily, even if competing and in hard work.